1 WEEK 2 WEEKS 3 WEEKS

Your Babys Age

1 DAY 2 DAYS 3 DAYS 4 DAYS 5 DAYS 6 DAYS 7 DAYS

How Often Should You Breastfeed?

Per day, on average over 24 hours

At least 8 feeds per day (every 1 to 3 hours). Your baby is sucking strongly, slowly, steadily and swallowing often.

Your Babys Tummy Size

Size of a cherry Size of a walnut Size of an apricot Size of an egg

Wet Diapers:
How Many, How Wet
Per day, on average over 24 hours

At least 1 At least 2 At least 3 At least 4 At least 6

WET WET WET WET HEAVY WET WITH PALE YELLOW OR CLEAR URINE

Soiled Diapers:
Number and Colour of Stools
Per day, on average over 24 hours

At least 1 to 2 At least 3 At least 3 large, soft and seedy

BLACK OR DARK GREEN BROWN, GREEN, OR YELLOW YELLOW

Babies lose an average of 7% of their birth weight

Your Babys Weight in the first 3 days after birth. For example, a 3.2 kilogram or From Day 4 onward your baby should gain 20 to 35g per day (C/d to 1B/d oz) and regain his or her birth weight by 10 to14 days.
7-pound baby will lose about 230 grams or - a pound.

Growth Spurts

*
Babies often experience a sudden burst in growtha growth spurtat certain times within their first few weeks.
During these growth spurts your baby may want to nurse more than usual.
* *
Other Signs Your baby should have a strong cry, move actively and wake easily. Your breasts feel softer and less full after breastfeeding.

Breast milk is all the food a baby needs for the first six months At six months of age begin introducing solid foods while continuing to breastfeed until age two or older
(WHO, UNICEF, Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, Ontario Breastfeeding Committee, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Canadian Pediatric Society, American Academy of Pediatrics)
 Breastfeeding
G uidelines for consultants

Assess the baby.

The baby has the
right number of
Observe the Assess the latch. wet and soiled
mother breast- The babys mouth diapers, a moist
feeding her baby. is wide open, the mouth, bright If nipple discomfort,
This is the key lips are flanged eyes and is alert, decreased output,
to prevention and the chin gaining weight poor weight gain
and early Assess position- is pressed into and generally or other problems
identification ing and proper the breast. healthy. persist, reassess
of breastfeeding alignment of the Observe the baby mother, baby, latch
problems. mother and baby. swallowing. and feed, and
Ensure maternal consider referral
comfort. to a physician.
Use pillows
if necessary.

METHODS TO INCREASE MOTHER'S MILK SUPPLY AND BABY'S INTAKE ACCEPTABLE BREASTFEEDING SUPPLEMENTS
- Correct latch and position - Use breast compressions Best Choice: Expressed mothers breast milk
- Increase number of feeds - Switch breasts several times Second choice: Pasteurized donor breast milk
- Express milk after feeds in the same feeding Third choice: Cows milk formula
Fourth choice: Vegetable based formula such as soy
ACCEPTABLE MEDICAL REASONS FOR SUPPLEMENTATION
Babies with hypoglycemia that does not improve with increased effective breastfeeding. PROVIDING BREASTFEEDING SUPPLEMENTS
Babies with dehydration that does not improve with increased effective breastfeeding. When supplementation is required, one of the following techniques may be used:
Maternal medications that are contraindicated with breastfeeding (refer to Motherisk - Supplemental nursing device at the breast This document has been

416-813-6780 or www.motherisk.org). - Cup, spoon, dropper or finger feeding prepared with funds provided
by the Government of Ontario.
Babies with inborn errors of metabolism such as galactosemia or PKU. - Bottle feeding using slow flow to allow the baby to control the intake
Babies who are unable to feed at the breast due to physical or other reasons. Continue to promote skin-to-skin contact as much as possible between the parents www.beststart.org
Babies and mothers who are separated due to severe illness or geographic separation. and the baby while supplemental feedings are in progress. 03/2009

Exclusive formula feeding is recommended for HIV positive mothers.